KENTUCKY (6/28/13) – A federal grand jury returned a 30-count indictment against Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev for his alleged role in using weapons of mass destruction at the Boston Marathon to kill three individuals and maim or seriously injure many others, as well as for using a firearm to intentionally kill Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Police Officer Sean Collier.

“Today’s indictment is the result of the dedicated and collective efforts of law enforcement and intelligence partners, working with a sense of urgency and purpose to find those responsible for these deadly attacks,” said FBI Director Robert S. Mueller. “These continuing efforts reflect the pursuit of justice for those who lost their lives and for the scores of individuals who were injured.”

The indictment alleges that beginning no later than February 2013 and continuing until Tsarnaev was apprehended on April 19, 2013, Tsarnaev and his brother Tamerlan conspired to use improvised explosive devices (IEDs) against people, property, and places of public use. Specifically, the indictment alleges that on April 15, 2013, during the 117th running of the Boston Marathon, Tsarnaev and his brother placed IEDs among the crowds of spectators who were cheering the runners on Boylston Street towards the marathon finish line. After placing the IEDs among the crowd, the indictment alleges, Tsarnaev and his brother detonated the bombs seconds apart, killing three people, maiming and injuring many more, and forcing a premature end to the marathon. The indictment alleges that the IEDs were constructed from pressure cookers, explosive powder, shrapnel, adhesives, and other items and were designed to shred skin, shatter bone, and cause extreme pain and suffering, as well as death.

SurfKY News contacted several local officials throughout the Western Kentucky region in regards to the indictment, getting their opinions.

Ed DeArmond, the Mayor of Greenville in Muhlenberg County, KY, stated that, “I don't think anybody should be surprised about the indictment. It was obvious to me from the beginning that they had the right people. I don't think Massachusetts has a state-sponsored death penalty per se, but hopefully he will qualify for the federal death penalty.”

Madisonville, KY Police Chief Wade Williams was very pleased with the outcome, particularly from a law enforcement perspective. “Great Police Work led to a great day for the people of Boston,” said Williams.

Vanessa Harris, a Hopkins County, KY Inspirational Romance author, is not very comfortable with the concept of the death penalty, but stated that this particular case holds a different perspective of that concept, from a justice point of view. “Based on the evidence in this case, I feel that his indictment was a big step in putting this terrible incident to rest,” said Harris. “I'm not a big proponent of the death penalty, but in this case I believe this would be the most satisfactory sentence if convicted. Maybe now the people of Boston and the rest of the United States can begin to heal.”

Loman Scarbrough, statewide Christian columnist, ministry leader, firefighter and former fire chief, said that, “I am grateful to our justice system on the indictment. As a former Fire Chief, I understand that everything takes a lot of time. We want to find out answers right now, as the general public. But the investigators have to have all the evidence ready all the T's crossed and the I's dotted. As for the outcome of the final sentencing, no matter what the jury decides, God is the ultimate judge. Personally, I would hate to have to stand before God knowing I had committed these acts.”

Stephanie Pollard, Family Store Manager with the Hopkins County Salvation Army stated that, “The Indictment of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is a step in the right direction to giving some peace to everyone affected that day in Boston. Tsarnaev should pay for any involvement he had in the tragedy that happened in Boston. Those affected are now and always in my prayers.”

SurfKY News will keep you updated as new details in this case are released.

J.L. GrahamSurfKY NewsInformation provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation